A Message From Alex April 2022

When you think of your self-care routines at home, how much plastic is involved? From your toothbrush and toothpaste tube to the shampoo and conditioner bottles—almost everything we use has some level of plastic involved. With only around 9% of plastic being recycled in this country, why not just skip the plastic with some items you won’t find anywhere locally but here!

A favorite of mine we brought in years ago is traditional double-edged razors. Just one metal razor can last a lifetime if taken care of. The double-edged blades are made of stainless steel, and unlike modern razor cartridges, have no plastic pieces.

The oral care aisle is getting lots of exciting new items to keep your mouth and our planet healthy and clean. Have you heard of toothpaste tablets? Ditch the plastic toothpaste tube and try out Unpaste Tooth Tabs. Just chew the tab, add a little water to your toothbrush and you’re good to go! It’s even packaged in recycled paper printed with soy-based ink, which is fully compostable.

Celebrate Earth Day Year-Round!

A line we just received in March is The Future is Bamboo. Our favorite items are rainbow-colored toothbrushes for both kids and adults. The handle is made out of 100% bamboo and is completely biodegradable. This company also makes cotton swabs and great floss picks made from corn, cassava, and beets!

A line I use regularly at home makes wonderful herbal shampoo bars that are packaged in recycled paper boxes. They yield 2x as many washes as a standard shampoo bottle. All scents are made with organic coconut oil and free of parabens and silicone.

Back during our first few generations of businesses, there wasn’t a plastic item in sight at Ozzie’s. I’d like to think Grandpa Oswald would approve of these new and exciting items at the family drugstore!

Written by Alex Anderson

Alex is the current owner of Oswald's Pharmacy. A 6th generation member of the Wickel-Oswald-Kester-Anderson family, Alex focuses on innovation and taking the business into the future. With 7 years of working for Whole Foods Market as a Marketing & Community Relations Specialist, Healthy Eating Specialist, and Private Events Coordinator, Alex has a unique perspective on big and small businesses. Alex is a co-founder and board member of the Independent Medical Retailers group. Alex graduated with a BA degree from Columbia College Chicago in 2009. Alex has spent most of his life in Naperville and Chicago. He currently lives in Naperville with his 2 children (Oswald's 7th Generation!)